This page is the combination of the action items identified both through a careful review of the retreat documents and proceedings, along with subsequent discussion by the Web Editorial Board at its meetings following the retreat.

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===Activities===

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==Web Editorial Board==

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A repeat of the Unit Manager presentation by Elizabeth Buie, UserWorks, for the Web Content Developers is desirable--after the Midwinter Meeting

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===Broad Issues===

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* distinction between public and library workers' content in light of ILoveLibraries (see article in the January American Libraries)

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* decentralized content development as a strength ... and a weakness

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* extent to which ala.org should be a repository of all ALA documents (vs. being a leaner resource of current items)

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* how is using blogs and wikis now to get around limitations of the current CMS and decentralized content going to affect site redevelopment as we move ahead

* continued focus on awards, with eye to defining different ways of presenting them — George and Beth At the 12/20 meeting, it was agreed to urge review of unit awards pages (Beth), to be followed by meeting in training room on 1/10 to ensure maximum visibility for awards announced on 1/22

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* Discuss collaborative tools vs. CMS for presentation of information

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* Review usability of ILoveLibraries.org

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''At the 1/31 meeting the W.E.B. decided to appoint a task force to consider options for making awards information more usable.''

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* continued focus on awards -- 2010 proposal prepared for developing a database

· Consolidate and increase the visibility of frequently asked questions developed by the ALA Library in response to members

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· Install revamped home page. <br>''There are now seven permanent spotlight buttons on the upper right-hand corner of the page. These buttons have pushed the weekly spotlight buttons "below the fold," greatly decreasing their exposure. A revamped home page will rearrange the elements currently on the home page to provide more equitable positioning.''

These are high-priority fixes that would improve navigation and information architecture. In some cases these may require usability review before they can be implemented.

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· Graphical recasting of home page content to provide more prominence to weekly spotlight items (permanent spotlight buttons such as Annual Conference / Midwinter, Continuing Education Clearinghouse, etc., have pushed the weekly spotlights “below the fold” on the home page, greatly reducing their utility)

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· Refocus “contact us” page for greater clarity and ease of use <br>

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''At the 12/20 meeting, Jenny agreet to be the lead on this''

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· Modify Google search results page to assure users they are searching ALA content and have not left the ALA site (Google’s graphics give the impression the user has left ALA and gone to the main Google site).<br>

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''At the 12/20 meeting, it was agreed that this is an ITTS project.''

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· Begin working on creating flyouts and dropdowns on high-level navigation items

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· Work with content managers to assure that all alt tags contain relevant text<br>

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''This will be part of the "Web Olympics.''

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· Begin a comprehensive redesign process and allow members to preview and evaluate preliminary wireframes at Annual Conference in Washington, DC<br>

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''UserWorks will be assisting with the preparation of the card sorts, taxonomy development, and wire frames prior to the Annual Conference.''

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====Long Term====

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These activities are intended to implement and extend the recommendations of the usability assessment and assure the usability of the ALA website for the future.

· Incorporate permanent mechanisms of usability engineering and testing that would improve website usability, including

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===Documents===

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* [http://blogs.ala.org/webplanning.php?title=moving_forward_with_latest_wireframes_fo UserWorks presentation about the second round of wireframes], given at the Executive Board meeting in October 2007 in Chicago

ILoveLibraries.org, an initiative of President Leslie Burger to create a library-advocacy oriented website for the public, will be launched before the Annual Conference. Its content will reflect all types of libraries. See [http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtisrogers/480672519/] for a preview.

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''At the 12/20 meeting, Karen agreed to bring plan for making Professional Tools page more effective but a new architecture may be the long-term solution.''

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· Develop a “new members” section<br>

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===Ask ALA===

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''Consider relationship with New Members wiki''

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====Completed====

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Ask ALA is an interface between the ALA website and the internal ALA Knowledge Manangement System (KMS) to enable staff to use a knowledge base to provide answers quickly and consistently.

See a preview of it in the [http://wikis.ala.org/webplanning/images/9/9d/Supercharge_your_Reference_Desk0607.pdf PDF] of the PowerPoint presentation from the 2007 SLA meeting. (1,290 KB)

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''The link to a wiki with all the ALA blogs, wikis, rss feeds, podcasts, and other forms of social networking went live January 17. Still need units to check the lists of electronic discussion lists, whether Listproc or Sympa, for accuracy and completeness. All need a new image for linking. When the "Get Involved" page is developed, the ReadWriteConnect page will be linked from it.''

Documents

Other Developments on the ALA Website

ILoveLibraries.org

ILoveLibraries.org, an initiative of President Leslie Burger to create a library-advocacy oriented website for the public, will be launched before the Annual Conference. Its content will reflect all types of libraries. See [1] for a preview.

Ask ALA

Ask ALA is an interface between the ALA website and the internal ALA Knowledge Manangement System (KMS) to enable staff to use a knowledge base to provide answers quickly and consistently.

See a preview of it in the PDF of the PowerPoint presentation from the 2007 SLA meeting. (1,290 KB)